Cat Articles

They turn their noses at their bowls for no other reason than to drive their people to an early grave or insanity — or both. If you’ve ever dealt with a cat that seemingly refuses to eat, it’s easy to feel like their only pleasure in life is to psychologically torture you and waste all of that expensive food you were sure they’d love.

And you are certainly not alone in feeling a little crazed and helpless sometimes. As for that theory about cats just being picky, it’s somewhat true, but there’s a whole lot of nuance.

When bacteria get to the root of your cat's teeth

Many a cat is brought to the veterinary office because of a sudden swelling under one of their eyes, possibly accompanied by a decrease in their energy level and appetite. Though it’s not always the case, these swellings are often the result of a tooth root abscess — an infection that occurs at the base of the tooth, under the gumline.

A tooth root abscess is easily confirmed on dental x-rays. An abscess happens when bacteria gain access to the deeper structures of the tooth, where the local environment can be ideal for bacterial growth. The infection causes inflammation and starts to erode the tooth structures.

National Hairball Awareness Day

Given the frequency with which many cats barf up hairballs, and the frequency with which many people step on these unpleasant clumps of fur and stomach contents, it’s completely appropriate that there should be a National Hairball Awareness Day each year. Don’t you think?

Sadly, this doesn’t mean that on the last Friday of April each year your cat will be kind enough to point out all the hairballs they’ve hacked up throughout your house, and do so prior to your stockinged feet finding them first. Rather, National Hairball Awareness Day is an opportunity to learn about, or refresh your memory on, what hairballs could mean and some of the steps you could take to minimize their occurrence (or even prevent them).
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What are these bumps on my cat's back?

Though it happens throughout the year, now is the time when we vets start seeing a lot more cats with "bumpy backs." These small bumps and scabs, also common around a cat’s neck and face, are what's called “miliary dermatitis.”

This inflammatory process of the skin is typically accompanied by itchiness, which cats often express by scratching and/or biting at their skin (although you may not actually see them doing so). Until proven otherwise, miliary dermatitis in cats is an indication of the presence of, and potentially allergic reaction to, fleas.

Because miliary dermatitis is an uncomfortable condition for cats, and because it most often indicates a flea problem, this is a finding that should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. To learn more about fleas read this article about fleas and their treatment and prevention on cats.

Have you ever noticed little bumps or “blackheads” on your cat’s chin? Perhaps they’ve even progressed to full fledged “zits” by the time you’ve noticed them? These signs are often, though not always, an indication of what’s commonly referred to as “chin acne” in cats.

For deeper or more persistent cases, you’ll need to see your vet for safe and effective treatment. However, for mild cases of chin acne, simple cleaning at home and some changes to your cat’s meal time routine may just do the trick.

In this condition the multiple surfaces of a tooth are systematically destroyed (resorbed — "broken down and dissolved back into the body") by the cells of your pet's own body. The cells that are responsible for this destruction are called odontoclasts. These cells have a normal and healthy function within the body, but for some reason, in this disease state, they begin to exert their resorptive function in an abnormal way — resulting in the destruction of an otherwise apparently healthy and normal tooth (or teeth).

"To pull or not to pull?" – that is the question

If an accident happens and your cat does ingest something, “to pull or not to pull?” is the question that so many people ask. This is, of course, in reference to what action you should take should you notice something sticking out of your cat’s butt.

Many cat owners don’t realize that hiding can be a very important and concerning sign in cats. Many just attribute it to grumpy feline behavior or their cat’s preference for dark, isolated places.

Unfortunately though, hiding is often just an outward manifestation (sign) of an internal problem. And it’s a sign you should always be on the look out for and heed the warning of when it occurs.
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Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.

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